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Industry evolution is driving innovation in the foodservice equipment world, writes Steve Maahs, president and COO at Alto-Shaam…
In the span of a year, the foodservice industry has been tested and challenged like never before.
As highlighted by the latest research data from Technomic, the pandemic has transformed consumer behavior on a truly global scale, further accelerating trends including the shift towards off-premise offerings, as well as the adoption of new solutions and technology that enhance foodservice operations.
The pandemic has forced restaurants, caterers and all foodservice operators to adapt their entire processes and offerings.
Forced closures and dine-in restrictions mean that more and more consumers are turning to off-premise food options.
The shift is primarily driven by an increase in delivery, narrowing the gap between delivery and takeout.
The rise of curbside pickup contributes to higher takeout, with just under half (44%) of consumers saying they have been using curbside pickup more often than before the pandemic.
Creating greater efficiencies
For many operators, the need to identify greater efficiencies in space and food production has presented one of the biggest challenges.
Essential efficiencies have included the reduction of costs, waste and labor, as well as catering to social distancing measures, while maintaining food quality.
Versatile and multi-functional equipment can play a key role in maximising operations.
In particular, we have experienced increased demand for more compact, ventless and multifunctional equipment to expand off-premise programs and to reduce operating costs.
Our Combitherm combi ovens and Vector Multi-Cook ovens, for example, allow operators to execute a variety of cooking applications while maximizing food quality and consistency, even when cooking in high volume.
Additionally, Alto-Shaam holding solutions with exclusive Halo Heat technology are designed to safely hold food at its optimal temperature.
High quality holding equipment has helped our customers streamline processes in to-go programmes, from takeout and delivery to grab-and-go- across industries, such as supermarkets, c-stores and quick service restaurants.
Managing limited time offers
Menu innovation also continues to play a key role, with increased demand for new offerings and limited time offers (LTOs).
For operators, managing an LTO has many challenges, the greatest of which is logistical, and ensuring consistency of delivery across multiple outlets.
Today, however, technology is helping to make life easier. We launched ChefLinc, our cloud-based, remote oven management system, to put operators in total control of their operation wherever they are.
With intuitive recipe management, pushing recipes from the cloud to ovens not only eliminates the likelihood of keystroke error, but also the need for unnecessary traveling to manually program recipes into ovens.
Although the crisis is far from over, Alto-Shaam will continue to launch new solutions and technological innovations that support operators in realizing greater efficiencies and improving long-term profitability.
Equally, we will continue our commitment to providing the highest level of service and support for our customers and partners, including offering more virtual and in-person events – to meet them where they are.


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Pierce-Arrow Museum Lands Coveted Corvettes Valued at $6.3 Million
Corvette’s ties to New York sway owner to showcase classic collectibles at Buffalo transportation museum.
Talk about landing a few hot gems! Yep, it doesn’t get much better than this if you’re a transportation museum looking for a few Corvettes to add your collection.
Of course, these kind of acquisitions usually evolve out of longstanding relationships and a deep level of respect among all parties involved. Then again, sometimes it’s all a matter of luck, and being in the right place at the right time. That was apparently the case when Buffalo, New York’s Pierce-Arrow Museum recently landed four coveted Corvettes. All together, they’re valued at $6.3 million dollars!
The coup started when James T. Sandoro, founder and executive director of the museum, was asked to appraise a car for Michael Yager. Yager’s family owns the Corvettes, as well as a Corvette parts business.
CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About These Pieces of Automotive Art
When Yager found out about Sandoro’s museum, he asked the director about having one of the Corvettes displayed in the collection. Yager was particularly interested because of the car’s strong ties to New York. That eventually spiraled into Pierce-Arrow landing three more of Yager’s vintage ‘Vettes, as well.
The Corvette additions to the museum include the 1964 New York World’s Fair Mitchell Styling Corvette, a 1964 Corvette Styling Car, a 1969 Elliot Forbes-Robinson #8, and a 1962 Corvette #69 SCCA National Champion.
Sandoro said he expects the cars to be a major draw, considering they’re some of the most coveted classics in the world.
“We think 8,000 to 10,000 Corvette fans a year will come down,” Sandoro told The Buffalo News. “Corvette clubs will come with their cars or take buses to stay overnight.”
That sounds about right. Will you be visiting?

domain: news


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The chair of a New York Senate hashish committee claims his panel will hold its initially general public listening to subsequent thirty day period to attempt and determine legislative answers to the state’s ongoing marijuana legalization implementation issues by bringing regulators, lawmakers, stakeholders and advocates alongside one another for a “honest and successful” policy discussion.
Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D), who was appointed to lead the Senate’s initial-ever cannabis panel earlier this 12 months, announced the Oct 30 listening to throughout a press meeting on Thursday. He reported that the purpose of the meeting is to “ultimately tackle the several troubles that we have found with the rollout of adult-use hashish here in New York.”
Frustrations over New York’s hashish software have compounded more than latest months, as regulators have labored to stand up a current market that prioritizes social equity, awarding conditional licenses to people today who’ve been most impacted by prohibition. The system has been slow—and illicit cannabis businesses have proliferated in the interim. Meanwhile, lawsuits have quickly halted licensing, even further complicating the problem.
Cooney acknowledged that “it is no magic formula that the point out’s route to grownup-use cannabis has been fulfilled with a range of troubles,” and he mentioned “just one of the most critical jobs that we have as point out lawmakers is legislative oversight.”
— Senator Jeremy Cooney (@SenatorCooney) September 7, 2023
“We have a responsibility to get the job done with our governor and our condition agencies to make sure that our collective aims are satisfied,” he stated. “And New Yorkers themselves are worthy of transparency when it will come to their governing administration on what has been accomplished so much.”
When the senator explained that the meeting future thirty day period before the 12-member Senate Subcommittee on Cannabis is principally meant to be element of a “reality-locating” system, he instructed Cannabis Moment that “we will ideally establish unique general public policy demands [and] laws in the hearing process. That’s why it’s essential that we do it now, this tumble, ahead of we convene in Albany.”
He also claimed that “my expectation is that with any luck , by the time this hearing takes location in Albany, we will see a path forward for the non-conditional licenses applications” for folks who do not qualify as social equity business entrepreneurs.
“This is significant that we go on this—and we want to make positive that we have the entire photo of what is essential to be ready to progress legislation, whether it’s coming by means of my office environment or 1 of my colleagues’,” Cooney reported. “So this will be this will be part of that course of action, and we will generate tips of the policy report at the summary of the hearing.”
Witnesses for the hearing—which arrives as existing health care cannabis companies have been ever more agitating to enter the point out’s grownup-use market—haven’t been detailed but, but the chairman claimed that he doesn’t want it to simply be authorities officials and lawmakers in the space. It’s intended to “entail the cannabis group at huge,” which include people who’ve confronted problems getting into the current market. Cooney stressed, nevertheless, that he will not enable the hearing “to be utilised as an prospect to air private grievances or attack individuals or companies.”
The hearing will also be held in conjunction with the chairs of the Senate Agriculture, Finance and Investigations & Authorities Operations Committees.
“I have an understanding of that this is a pretty annoying, baffling, rapid-relocating time for equally opportunity individuals and those people invested in the adult use-industry,” Cooney stated. “Don’t forget that it was about a 12 months back currently that the [conditional adult-use retail dispensary] system was very first released in New York—and listed here we are all these months afterwards, quite unhappy with its outcome.”
“I hear the concern of these voices and I recognize that they have communities that they have to be accountable for, and we want to give them an option to be able to share their stories and, ideally additional importantly, find out from their encounters,” the senator explained. “But we require to take action and as a legislature [and] as the point out Senate.”
Senate The vast majority Chief Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) stated on Thursday that the forthcoming Senate Subcommittee on Cannabis listening to, executed in collaboration with the Finance, Agriculture, and IGO Committees, is “yet another move in our motivation to a dependable and equitable retail hashish marketplace in New York Condition.”
The Hashish Affiliation of New York stated that “sunlight is the very best disinfectant, and far more transparency will assist us all switch the New York authorized hashish close to before it’s far too late.”
“This listening to will deliver the valuable possibility to examine how we got in this article and file these figured out classes via this hearing’s transcripts,” the association reported. “However, knowledge the earlier is only one particular piece of the puzzle we will need clarity on what the future retains.”
Cannabis Instant is tracking much more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy costs in point out legislatures and Congress this 12 months. Patreon supporters pledging at the very least $25/month get accessibility to our interactive maps, charts and listening to calendar so they don’t overlook any developments.
Learn much more about our cannabis invoice tracker and turn out to be a supporter on Patreon to get obtain.
One particular action that regulators have taken to check out and fill source and need gaps as the rollout proceeds is authorizing hashish farmers markets, the place retail licensees husband or wife with growers to promote goods at open up-market activities.
Individually, New York City officers introduced in July that they’re searching for loan providers to support a cannabis fairness fund that will market participation in the sector by people today who’ve been disproportionately impacted by criminalization.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) administration is also stepping up its press to transition persons to the legal sector, regardless of the bottlenecking of having approved retailer licensees released so considerably.
That included launching a community education campaign in April encouraging grownups to invest in their cannabis from accredited outlets to make certain that products and solutions are secure and that earnings is utilized to progress fairness and reinvestment plans.
Officials did announce in March that they are doubling the amount of conditional adult-use cannabis licenses that can be authorised, from 150 to 300, just after obtaining feedback from specified applicants that they would be ready to more expeditiously open up storefronts without extra help by means of a condition application designed to aid eligible entities produce physical areas.
The governor also recently released laws to raise enforcement authority to crack down on illicit cannabis retailers as the state struggles to stand up the regulated grownup-use market place.
The New York Senate also authorised a bill in June that would deliver tax aid to New York City cannabis firms that are at the moment blocked from creating federal deductions beneath an Inner Revenue Service (IRS) code regarded as 280E.
Even though Hochul signed a funds bill final year that integrated provisions allow point out-amount cannabis small business tax deductions—a partial cure to the ongoing federal issue—New York City has its own tax legal guidelines that weren’t influenced by that improve.
The put up New York Senate Marijuana Committee Schedules Listening to To Deal with Problems For Legalization Rollout appeared initially on Cannabis Second.


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That Web site is responsible for half of the PC maker's revenue, Dell Computer chief executive Michael Dell said at a keynote address here this morning. Web site stability was a problem for the company late last year.
"Windows 2000 will be key to building the Internet," Dell said, kicking off a three-day launch event for the business-class operating system. The event culminates in the official launch of the much-anticipated OS on Thursday.
Dell's Windows 2000 enthusiasm contrasts somewhat with his recent comments in a conference call that the Linux operating system, considered an alternative to Microsoft Windows, was gaining momentum, and that there was no rush of corporate customers upgrading hardware systems for the new OS.
After the keynote, Dell downplayed those remarks. Microsoft representatives called him on what he said, but their concerns were diminished when they listened to a recording of the conference call, Dell said.
"I believe the adoption rate will be strong. I don't think it will be determined by my speeches," he said.
Dell today stressed the importance of e-commerce and the role of the new OS in that market.
"If you imagine this whole Internet economy, there's a tremendous amount of friction in this world in the way the economy works," he said. By tying businesses together through data
Windows 2000: Under the hood
New features for the various versions of Microsoft's latest corporate operating system.
|Windows 2000 Professional|
Computers can be upgraded from
Windows 95 and 98 without stripping hard
Supports USB, FireWire, DVD and other
Better power management than NT or
Networking is more manageable and
requires fewer "reboots."
Supports smart cards.
Introduces Device Manager and
plug-and-play device support.
Can work with up to 4GB of memory.
|Windows 2000 Server|
Introduces Active Directory for managing
multiple PCs on a network.
Supports virtual private networking and
more secure remote access.
Offers simpler and enhanced
Offers multimedia streaming.
Windows Terminal Services integrated
into OS rather than on separate software.
Supports sharing of data using XML
|Windows 2000 Advanced Server|
Network load balancing distributes
network traffic for improved performance.
Supports rolling upgrades and
maintenance for minimizing downtime.
Accepts up to 8GB of memory and up to
eight Intel-compatible processors.
During the keynote address, Dell personnel demonstrated an 11 percent performance gain in switching from Windows NT to Windows 2000 in a demonstration of Dell's own Web site.
Other companies joined Dell in singing the praises of the new OS. Ford Motor's chief information officer was on hand to announce that his company will be moving many of its basic business processes to the new OS this year.
Dell touted the new operating system's stability and said a solid Net connection is vital to business. Repeating a message heard from numerous companies these days, Dell said Internet connectivity is "as fundamental as electricity is in your infrastructure."
The CEO also focused on Unix. He said that Windows 2000 will coexist with Unix servers but eventually will replace some. The increased power and stability of the new OS "will allow us to further encroach on the Unix market. It's a matter of embracing and working with (those Unix systems) and also replacing them at the same time."
After the speech, Dell indicated that his company no longer is considering Solaris, Sun's version of Unix, for use when Intel's new 64-bit Itanium chip debuts.
Instead, he said Dell is favoring Linux and Monterey-64, a product that merges versions of Unix from IBM and Santa Cruz Operation.
Dell also said that it would unveil its hosting business in about two weeks. That business is a service that will allow customers to rent access to Dell servers with Windows 2000 instead of setting up the servers themselves.
In Palm Springs, Calif., at the Intel Developer's Forum, some of the focus was on the power consumption of Windows 2000 and how it relates to chip speeds.
Pat Gelsinger, an Intel vice president, said the new OS requires 250 more megahertz of chip power to get the equivalent user experience. Analysts at the Intel event said that was a fairly large speed bump and were surprised that a close Microsoft ally would say that.
News.com's Michael Kanellos contributed to this report.


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PayPal (PYPL) stock forecast: Can it reverse downtrend?
As 2022 draws to a close, the stock price of payment giant PayPal (PYPL) has yet to reverse its downtrend. The end of Covid-19 restrictions in most countries has seen less online shopping and a reduction in the need for digital payment.
Soaring inflation – which briefly hit the highest level in four decades in the US – has forced consumers to cut spending.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has raised the prices for food and energy, exacerbated inflation and prompted investors to dump growth stocks, especially in technology companies.
The headwinds have continued to pressure the PYPL stock price, erasing a 116.5% gain in 2020 when the pandemic hit. As a result, it has dropped more than 53% year to date (YTD) and declined nearly 64.5% year over year (YoY), lagging the Nasdaq index (US100), which has fallen 30.4% this year and 26.96% YoY.
At the time of writing (27 October), PayPal’s stock dropped 0.77% to $88.55 at close on 26 October. However, it recorded a weekly gain of 4.97%, outperforming the Nasdaq, which rose by 2.92% in one week, according to TradingView.
This article examines whether other factors have affected PYPL’s ongoing downtrend, the latest stock news and PayPal’s share price forecast from analysts.
PayPal (PYPL) technical analysis
A PayPal stock analysis by Trading View showed PayPal’s closing price on 26 October was nearly 71.3% below its all-time high closing price of $308.53 a share, achieved on 23 July 2021.
PYPL fell nearly 25% in a single day for the first time this year on 2 February, after the company announced financial results for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2021. The downtrend has continued since then.
The stock had managed to book its biggest gain in a single day this year, closing 11.48% higher on 28 April, a day after it reported that revenue in the first quarter of 2022 was above analysts’ expectations. The gain was short-lived and PYPL resumed its decline.
PayPal stock outlook: Rate hikes and increased competition
Inflation is likely to remain bad news for the Californian-based fintech leader. The US annual inflation rate, as indicated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose by 8.2% in September below the figure of 9.1% in June. The most recent data indicated that inflation remains elevated, which is unlikely to change the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) already aggresive stance.
This year, the Fed has raised borrowing costs five times since March with a total increase of 300bps, taking the Federal Fund rate target to 3%–3.25% in September.
Brett Horn, Morningstar’s senior equity analyst, in a note issued on 27 July, said that PayPal is likely to face headwinds from e-commerce and electronic payments which had turbocharged the company’s growth during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Horn also highlighted rising competition from rivals that try to replicate Paypal’s business model.
“Fintech innovation also appears to be concentrated in the e-commerce space, which has given rise to some new competitors. On the consumer side, services such as Apple Pay represent competition for PayPal. Competition on both sides could chip away at PayPal’s position,” he said.
PayPal stock prediction: Analyst sentiment
Morningstar maintains its fair value estimate for PYPL’s stock price at $135 per share.
“The payment-processing industry is evolving, and it is possible that new competition and future disruption could significantly reduce the profitability PayPal can generate or cut it out altogether,” said Horn.
“As the company’s revenue is directly tied to revenue at its merchant customers, PayPal is sensitive to macroeconomic conditions. PayPal’s international operations present currency and execution risk. Some governments have shown a preference for local payment processors, which could freeze PayPal out of certain markets.”
Horn added that the company’s peer-to-peer or P2P, Venmo, is unlikely to become a major driver any time soon, despite generating $900m in revenue in 2021, or 4% of PayPal’s revenue. In addition, its future is difficult to predict.
As of 27 October, 43 analysts tracked by MarketBeat put a ‘moderate buy’ call for PYPL. They offered an average PayPal stock price target for the next 12 months of $132.19, representing a potential increase of 49.28% from the closing price of $88.55 on 26 October. The high price target was $270 and the low prices estimate was $90.
A ‘strong buy’ was the consensus recommendation of 29 Wall Street analysts polled by TipRanks as of 27 October – 23 analysts rated the stock a ‘buy’ and six a ‘hold’. The average 12-month price forecast for PayPal was $119.63, implying a potential upside of 35.10% from the last price of $88.55 on 27 October. Analysts offered a high forecast of $160 and a low of $90.
Trading Economics expected PayPal to trade at $81.29 by the end of the fourth quarter and at $73.82 in one year. The economic data provider based its PayPal’s stock predictions on projections made from global macro models and analysts’ expectations.
The consensus recommendation of 50 analysts tracked by MarketWatch was ‘overweight’, with 30 analysts rating the stock a ‘buy’, eight ‘overweight’ and 12 ‘hold’. The analysts set the PYPL 12-month price target at an average of $119.19, with a high estimate of $160 and a low of $89.
PayPal stock forecast 2022-2025, 2030
Analysts typically do not provide long-term PayPal’s share price forecasts, but algorithm-based price prediction services such as Wallet Investor, give PayPal’s future stock price using PYPL’s historical prices.
Algorithm forecasting services have mixed views on PYPL stock. Wallet Investor was bearish on PayPal’s future stock price, saying: “PayPal Holdings Inc stock is a bad long-term (one year) investment.” As of 27 October, Wallet Investor in its PayPal’s stock forecast for 2022 expected it could drop to $48.445 in December 2022.
On the other hand, machine-learning prediction service Gov Capital was optimistic the stock could reverse its downtrend. In its PayPal stock predictions it estimated the share value could rise to $94.319 on 31 December 2022, climbing to $805.016 on 31 December 2025 and $1,390.629 on 30 October 2027.
The two forecasting services did not provide PYPL’s stock forecast for 2030.
When looking at PYPL stock forecasts, it’s important to remember that analysts’ forecasts and price targets can be wrong and should not be considered a recommendation to invest in the company.
It’s vital to do your own research and consider the latest market trends and PayPal stock news. Your decision to trade should depend on your attitude to risk, your expertise in the market, the spread of your investment portfolio and how comfortable you feel about losing money. And never invest more than you can afford to lose.
Is PYPL a buy now?
Analysts tracked by stock analysis companies mentioned in this article recommended a ‘buy’ for PYPL’s stock, as of 27 October. However, keep in mind that there are many factors that influence analysts when they offer ratings for a company, including the company’s performance and macroeconomic factors. As a result, ratings can change over time, depending on those factors.
Will PayPal stock go up?
Analysts and algorithm-based forecasting service Gov Capital expected the stock to go up within a year in their PayPal’s share price forecast. On the other hand, Wallet Investor expected the stock price to drop in the same period.
Bear in mind that stock markets remain volatile, and there may be price fluctuations. Both analysts and algorithm-based websites do get their predictions wrong. Always rely on your research. And never invest money that you cannot afford to lose.
Is PayPal a good stock to buy?
As of 27 October, analysts tracked by MarketBeat rated PYPL stock a ‘moderate buy’. Analysts polled by TipRanks rated it a ‘strong buy’. Analysts at MarketWatch rated the stock ‘overweight’.
Whether or not PYPL is a good investment for you will depend on your portfolio composition, investment goals and risk profile. Different trading strategies will suit various investment goals, whether short or long term. Always do your own research. And never invest money that you cannot afford to lose.
Where will PayPal stock be in 5 years
Gov Capital forecast that PayPal’s stock could rise to $1,390.629 on 30 October 2027. Please remember that forecasts from prediction services and analysts’ ratings can be wrong and have been inaccurate in the past. Always do your own research. And remember never to invest more money than you can afford to lose.
How high can PayPal stock go?
Forecasting is difficult. Many factors influence a company’s stock price. Some are influenced by the company’s performance, while broader macroeconomic factors influence others. Because markets are volatile, there are no guarantees.
Is PayPal a good long-term stock?
This year, PayPal’s stock has been stuck in a downtrend, pressured by a broader shift in sentiment over tech stocks. Whether PayPal is a good long-term investment is determined by your investment goals and the research you’ve undertaken. Remember that forming your own opinion about a company’s prospects and the likelihood of meeting analysts’ targets is critical.
Should I invest in PayPal stock?
As of 27 October, PayPal stock had lost more than 53% of its value this year. Your decision to buy PayPal stock should be based on your risk tolerance, portfolio size and goals, and stock market experience. You should always conduct your research to determine whether a stock is suitable for you. Remember that previous results do not guarantee future returns. And never invest or trade money that you cannot afford to lose.


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Multi-channel marketing effort focuses on enhancements to package delivery services
May 19, 2015
WASHINGTON – The United States Postal Service launched an integrated marketing campaign today called “Watch Us Deliver,” which highlights recent improvements to Priority Mail™. The campaign also features the new Watch Us Deliver Dashboard (WatchUsDeliver.com), which showcases the latest innovations of USPS and features a stunning collection of live counters, impressive postal facts and entertaining modules, like the Live Eagle Cam—a 24/7 stream of rescued American Bald Eagles “Independence” and “Franklin.”
From free package pick-up, improved tracking technology, to Sunday delivery, the U.S. Postal Service continues to enhance its package delivery services to capitalize on the continued growth of e-commerce.
“This campaign is designed to build on the strong momentum in our and to highlight the many ways the Postal Service is changing and improving to better serve the American public,” said Betty Su, Executive Director of Brand Marketing at United States Postal Service. “We’re excited to communicate about the compelling reasons to do business with the Postal Service.”
Delivering Smarter – Priority: You
The U. S. Postal Service has been improving its tracking capabilities with USPS Tracking for all Priority Mail products. Customers can sign up for MyUSPS to receive text messages and e-mail alerts that provide estimated time of delivery.
Through an improved tracking system that utilizes up to 11 scanning points from sender to receiver, packages can be traced online, over the phone or via the U.S. Postal Service mobile app.
The U.S. Postal Service has made other significant changes including the introduction of 7-day package delivery and bringing convenience to the doorsteps of customers nationwide with at-home package pickup. Priority Mail is the only shipping service that offers free supplies delivered to your door and free Saturday delivery.


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Confectionery Brand Jelimals by ITC Adds Immunity Boosters to their Product Jelly
With the rising COVID-19 cases across the Indian subcontinent, various manufacturers of consumer goods have centred their focus towards immunity-boosting goods in order to generate revenue from the mass panic created by the pandemic. ITC’s confectionery brand named Jelimals is also one such company which has shifted its portfolio to offering jellies with immunity ingredients under the new brand name, Jelimals Immunoz. The main motive behind adding immunity boosters to their product jelly is to strengthen the FMCG conglomerate’s image amongst the consumers.
Jelimals, being a kid-centric brand, is now planning to follow its endeavours in supporting the health of its consumers (primarily children) with their immunity-boosting product jelly, which is dozed with vitamin C and Zinc. While the company plans to make the product more engaging to its younger consumers, they will keep the price points the same across the offerings.
In a recent study commissioned by the brand, Jelimals Immunoz, as a part of the launch of their new immunity-boosting jelly, highlights a few takeaways on the mindsets of children in the new normal. In the study, the results showed that about 94% of children miss going to school, and 95% miss meeting friends in person. Social media and video chat with friends were summed up to be the highlights of the day for children. The study was strategically placed for targeted consumers, hence, the data gathered belonged to the children in between the age group of 8-12 years across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.
In the month of May, ITC entered into a partnership with a direct selling company named Amway India for distributing its new product, packaged fruit beverage with immunity boosters, in association with its juice brand named B Natural in order to stay relevant and compete with other companies such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo, and Dabur as a breakfast period consumption drink amidst the outbreak.
With the increasing awareness through social media platforms, the health-related panic has increased and become a priority for numerous consumers across the world, including India, which has led to an immense boost in the sales of consumer products belonging to the category of health supplements, health bars, and branded health salt, among others. Meanwhile, numerous eateries such as Coffee Day Enterprises, Chai Point, Tata Starbucks, Chaayos, and more to ice cream makers such as Cream Bell, Dair Day, Naturals, and more have added immunity-boosting food to their menus such as ajwain sauf chai, chyawanprash ice-cream, haldi-doodh, tulsi milk, buttermilk ragi tacos and more in the post-lockdown period.
ITC’s Jelimals Immunoz, by shifting their portfolio towards making immunity boosting jelly, have not only planned to spread awareness about the pandemic but also help the future generations build a stronger immunity and with the mass panic caused by the pandemic, the company will flourish in the upcoming years with profitable margins.


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Over 16 months after first declaring its support for the OpenID authentication platform, Microsoft has finally implemented it for the first time, allowing for OpenID logins on its Health Vault medical site. Unfortunately, Health Vault will only support authentication from two OpenID providers: Trustbearer and Verisign. Whatever happened to the Open in OpenID?
But now, Microsoft has decided to increase the number of relying parties by 50%. To three.
So who was the lucky relying party who made it through the door? Portland-based JanRain‘s myOpenID.
A number of folks—me among them—are surprised it’s taken Microsoft this long to add another relying party. And it seems like the list is still missing a few other obvious and highly secure choices.
But myOpenID is a great place to start:
JanRain’s myOpenID service, the first and most popular independent OpenID service on the Internet, provides consumers with a free, fully featured, reliable, and secure solution for managing their personal online identity. Every myOpenID user receives several choices for secure authentication beyond password. These enhanced security options include: Microsoft InfoCard, Client Certificate, or Phone-based two factor authentication.
See? Smiling and nodding indeed. But at least it keeps a consistent theme to the week. That theme being “Great panel, but what is Rick doing up there?”
Sound interesting? I hear that there still a couple of seats left. So if you’d like to attend, swing by the Silicon Forest Forum site to register. And if you’re going to be there, please make sure to grab me and introduce yourself.
Portland-based JanRain, arguably the leading developer for OpenID solutions, is on a roll. It seems like they just released ID Selector, and now they’ve come forward with another OpenID solution: CallVerfID.
CallVerfID allows OpenID users who login with an *.myopenid.com identity to take an extra security precaution with their login: getting a phone call.
And here’s the best part: it’s on any phone. Well, okay, any phone with buttons.
Instantly receive a call when signing into myOpenID. Simply answer and press # to authenticate. No certificates or text messages. Use any phone.
My point was: it’s not SMS messaging. It’s an actual phone call.
I even tried it with Skype and it worked flawlessly.
Since I’m always one to try to shoehorn an analogy into any situation, I’d say that CallVerifID is akin to your credit card company calling you when a strange charge request is made. It’s simply an added precaution to ensure that your credentials are being used by you, and only you.
So, why the added precaution? Do I really want to get called every time I post a blog comment?
No, of course not. But as OpenID begins to take hold, and more and more personal and business applications become available, this type of multi-factor authentication is going to become necessary. Because, at some point, there’s going to be some fairly sensitive information and access rights tied to that OpenID. Banking, travel, and shopping just to name a few.
JanRain’s solution is quite simple and elegant. And it’s easy to adopt, no matter what your technical expertise. I, for one, think this is a step in the right direction.
This week, Portland-based JanRain will be unveiling their latest contribution to the OpenID community: a compelling means of simplifying OpenID logins for the everyday user called ID Selector. With ID Selector, JanRain has managed to reduce the complexity—and, well, geekiness—of the OpenID login process in the same way that products like AddThis have simplified the social-media-submission process.
Long story short, the ID Selector reduces your OpenID login to clicking an icon and providing a username. It’s a shrewd move, given that every OpenID provider has a standard structure for its URLs, a structure that allows JanRain to reduce the amount of user input to a traditional “username.”
JanRain has always done a great deal of the heavy lifting when it comes to working on OpenID and being open with the libraries they’ve developed. So they understand how to work for the greater good when implementing OpenID solutions.
Their take on the OpenID ID Selector is no different. It allows the folks who implement it to customize the providers that show and the order in which they are listed—even if that means JanRain’s MyOpenID doesn’t make the list.
This is yet another step forward for OpenID and its burgeoning user base. And, truly, one of the first ways I’ve seen that highlights to everyday Web users—millions of people who use services like AOL, Yahoo!, and Blogger—that they already have live OpenIDs which they could be using to manage services.
Major sites, like portals, could still do a much better job pushing the OpenID concept. That would be good for them, not just because it’d make OpenID more accessible to users, but because there’s a lot of brand affinity that sites can win by having users authenticate against their sites even when they’re using some other company’s service. Think of OpenID branding as the affinity credit card of the Web: Every time a user logs on to a service they’d get the authenticator’s brand popped up in front of them — just like Harley-Davidson does when its Visa affinity card users make purchases.
JanRain, not surprisingly, gets this, and will provide a complete white-label OpenID technology infrastructure for companies or brands that want to become authenticators. So if you want to log on to Web sites with an ID from your alma mater or local Rotary club, JanRain will make that possible.
From my side, I am starting to believe that we don’t need to market the term ‘OpenID’ to consumers. No one cares about the technology, they only want to login to their favorite service using their AOL or Google id. It’s like TCP/IP, no one cares how it works, just that our email shows up in the inbox and Twitter loads when we want to tell our friends we just saw Britney at CVS.
Clearly, we’re not out of the geek forest yet. But JanRain is making significant strides to see that we’re on our way.
The problem, though, is that the Big Four Internet companies that I mentioned above have made big press announcements about their support for OpenID, but haven’t done enough to actually implement it. Microsoft has done absolutely nothing, even though Bill Gates announced their support over a year ago. Google has limited its support to Blogger, where it is both an Issuing and Relying party. Yahoo and AOL are Issuing parties only.
This is a tenuous position at best. For as much ground as we can cover from a grassroots perspective, it’s going to be exceedingly difficult to get anyone—beyond early adopters—to take on OpenID without the support of some of these bigger entities.
Without the bigs, there is no OpenID tipping point.
But the funny thing—not funny “ha ha,” but funny “sad”—is that all of these gigantic companies are struggling with one very similar issue that would be partially—if not completely—solved by an effective implementation of OpenID: bringing acquisitions under a common login credential.
Yahoo! throws its acquirees’ respective user bases into turmoil every time it asks them to move over to a Yahoo! ID. Google takes years in its struggles to get everyone on the Google credential system. Microsoft and AOL are no different.
To me, it seems obvious that OpenID could solve this issue, now and for the foreseeable future. And I can’t be the only one seeing that.
As hard as it may be for them to accept it, the bigs need to move away from their proprietary credentialing structures. They need to embrace concepts like OpenID and OAuth for what they can do to solve their problems, today.
In short, they need to let go and let OpenID.
For now, the jury is still out on when and how the big company momentum will fall behind OpenID in terms of something more than spin and lip service. But let’s hope that day is soon approaching. For all of our sakes.
I can tell you one thing: from a grassroots level, Portland is sure to be leading the charge. And we’re not going to slowing our OpenID fandom anytime soon.


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- Longs Drug Stores reported that its first quarter income was $12.8 million, up from $9.2 million during the same period last year. Total sales were $1.15 billion, slightly lower than the $1.16 billion reported a year ago. Same-store sales were down 1.2 percent.
- SimonDelivers, the Minneapolis-based on-line grocery delivery service, announced this week that it recently had the first profitable quarter in the company’s history.
According to Christopher Brown, CEO of SimonDelivers, Inc., the company achieved this milestone after completing its second quarter ended March 27, 2005. “We are very excited about experiencing our first positive EBITDA quarter since our inception,” said Brown.
“This is not only a significant milestone for the company,” said Brown, “but also for the industry.” “Strong results, like those delivered by SimonDelivers.com today, prove that the on-line, pure-play grocery delivery concept can work and it gives this industry a new perspective,” continued Brown.


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Home > Travel > Malaysia
Saturday June 21, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Saturday June 21, 2014 MYT 8:27:39 AM
Hotels with a towel re-use programme will be eligible for listing in TripAdvisor's green hotels guide. - AFP
SOON, users of the largest online travel website will be able to choose eco-friendly accommodations from around the world, now that its green programme will expand to Canada, Britain, Ireland and France, among others.
TripAdvisor has announced plans to expand its GreenLeaders programme to 19 other markets in Canada and Europe, following a debut run in the United States.
That means that environmentally conscious users will be able to book a hotel room or bed and breakfast from owners who are making an effort to adopt sustainable practices.
Properties are assessed against a set of criteria that includes everything from the re-use of linens and towels, recycling and composting to solar panels and electric car charging stations.
Qualifying properties will be ranked into four different tiers – bronze, silver, gold and platinum – and the award shown on the property’s TripAdvisor listing.
Since its launch last spring, the GreenLeaders programme has awarded 3,700 properties across the United States. The Canadian and European listings are expected to be available later this year.
Earlier this year, BookDifferent (www.bookdifferent.com/en) out of the Netherlands launched as a booking site specialising in eco-friendly accommodations. Qualifying properties will be assessed by certification bodies like Green Key and Green Globe.
Expedia.com also has a green search option. — AFP Relaxnews
Tags / Keywords:
Travel, Lifestyle, travel, hotel, accommodation, environment, green hotel
Classic tastes from Johor and Negri
Cops nab seven over budget hotel robberies
Just like mother’s cooking
Airline inks pact with insurance company
Break fast with all kinds of everything
Don’t lose your cool in heatwave
Beaten to death over affair
Eastin spices up Ramadan fare
They win trucks, thanks to the ladies
Celebrate Raya in style with GEMFIVE
The 3 unexpected life events that leave us in debt
Divided and desperate Greeks vote in referendum that may decide euro future
Pahang up for Super League title challenge
Local filmmaker’s dream comes true
Copyright © 1995-2015 Star Media Group Berhad (ROC 10894D)(Formerly known as Star Publications (Malaysia) Berhad)


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Manufacturing trends are under the spotlight at the PPMA Show 2017, taking place from 26-28 September at the NEC, Birmingham.
From educating and informing to entertaining, the PPMA Show 2017 will be looking to build on its reputation as a best-in-class UK exhibition.
Organisers will be planning an event that offers visitors a seamless, userfriendly experience from the point of registration and delivers on demonstrating a wealth of innovation.
Valerio Del Vecchio, head of marketing at the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA) Group of Associations, believes the show is well placed to help manufacturers find new inspiration, ideas and solutions, as well as expand business opportunities.
“Confidence in the UK’s manufacturing industry peaked in the first quarter of 2017, according to latest figures, which reveal the fastest domestic sales growth noted since the third quarter of 2015, while export sales have grown at the quickest pace since the first quarter of the previous year,” she comments.
The findings, which formed part of a report issued by the British Chamber of Commerce, highlighted how the UK’s economy has defied predictions of decline and performed much better than expected following the Brexit referendum, also helped by a weaker pound, says PPMA.
However, while short-term predictions demonstrate the industry’s resilience, the long-term outlook highlights a state of uncertainty amid fears of rising costs.
These topics were top of the agenda at last year’s PPMA Show when peer and former trade minister Francis Maude [pictured above] delivered the opening address on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for UK industry.
He presented an optimistic outlook, citing the potential benefits presented to Britain as it looked to “negotiate its own free trade agreements”.
Acknowledging that there would be “twists, turns and bumps along the way”, he added that there would be big opportunities that “British manufacturing companies were well-placed to exploit”.
Looking ahead to September, PPMA is encouraging manufacturing professionals to once again come together to discuss current issues facing the industry, as well as the trends that will impact the processing, packaging and manufacturing sectors over the next 12 months and beyond.
From the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 to how industrial vision technology and robots are changing modern manufacturing processes, exhibitors will reveal the ways in which they are embracing innovation and reaping the benefits.
The skills shortage and other issues will also return to the PPMA Show agenda as the industry addresses the challenges still in place, the steps required to address the current gaps in the market, and ways to ensure tomorrow’s diverse workforce is in place to protect the UK’s manufacturing legacy.
The manufacturing industries have long struggled to recruit in the numbers required to safeguard the industry’s next generation of engineers, says PPMA.
Manufacturers’ association the EEF released an industry report that suggested three-quarters of companies have faced difficulties finding the right workers in the last three years.
It warned that the skills shortage would put productivity growth at risk and increase pressure on manufacturers as they face a range of challenges both at home and abroad.
By expanding the focus of the new Learning Hub, the PPMA hopes to inspire visitors by providing a fresh perspective on relevant trends and issues
At the show the PPMA Group will aim to demonstrate the ways in which it is encouraging young as well as mature talent to enter and develop a career in engineering within the processing, packaging, robotics, automation and industrial vision industries through its PPMA BEST (business education, skills and training) charity.
This was created in 2014 to help tackle the skills shortage affecting the processing and packaging industry, and offers various programmes to a variety of age groups to encourage a career in engineering, ranging from financial grants to match funded bursaries.
In terms of learning opportunities at the show, the new and improved Learning Hub will also provide visitors and exhibitors with insights from leading industry experts as well as opinion leaders from the wider business world.
A full speaker programme will be announced in the coming months but early confirmations include TED speaker and chartered engineer Peter Anderton.
A former product manager at United Biscuits, Anderton is known for his inspirational talks and is set to give his two-rule approach to great leadership to show attendees.
By expanding the focus of the new Learning Hub, the PPMA hopes to inspire visitors by providing a fresh perspective on relevant trends and issues, as well as skills applicable across all industries.
As well as learning about leadership skills and strategies, organisers will also be looking to entertain attendees with some lighthearted competition in the form of the World’s Best Goalie – the RoboKeeper.
The computer-controlled goalkeeper has already taken on the likes of footballers Lionel Messi and Neymar, and will challenge visitors and exhibitors to try and score a goal live at the show.
“The RoboKeeper uses cutting-edge robotics and vision technology, reacting within fractions of a second, making it almost impossible to score. We look forward to seeing which of our exhibitors or visitors can take on the challenge and win a prize,” say organisers.
Buyers and suppliers
Over the past 30 years, the show has brought together buyers and suppliers. In 2016, the PPMA Total Show saw more than 1,000 leading packaging and processing machinery manufacturers represented at the NEC across three days, with more than 7,500 visitors. More than 270 exhibitors are currently confirmed to appear at this year’s event.
Each year the PPMA Show brings together all corners of the industry under one roof to share expertise, insights and discuss the future of both UK and global manufacturing industries.
It is an environment in which companies can showcase new technologies, build new relationships and, importantly, confirm a book full of new orders.
- For more information on the PPMA Show 2017 or to register for your free pass, visit www.ppmashow.co.uk


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Why Microfibres Are The New Microbeads - Vogue UK
Dr. Lisa Cameron MP was interviewed by friend of Fashion Roundtable, leading journalist, Tamsin Blanchard, for her article on microfibres in the fashion industry. Dr. Cameron highlighted the need for more awareness for the issues of microfibres, as has recently happened with successful lobbying by the beauty industry on the environmental impact of microbeads.
'MPs are finally waking up to the issue. After the UK government recently banned microbeads, microfibres are next on the list. Dr. Lisa Cameron MP, chair of the recently formed All-Party Parliamentary Group on Textiles and Fashion, told Vogue: “The Blue Planet effect is sweeping across Westminster and it’s time for the fashion industry to take a grip of this movement. The campaign by the ethical cosmetic sector was strong [against microbeads], and if we can gather a similar momentum within the textiles and fashion industries then the government will act: there needs to be a strong policy agenda on the use of microfibres".'


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The Semiconductor shortage crisis has seen some improvements, and production has been going quite well, but there are still kinks. For example, General Motors is now halting production of its breadwinning Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks at the Ford Wayne Assembly plant in Indiana for two weeks next month. This will be the first time this year the automaker has shut down its plant due to the shortage. However, considering the automaker is launching the new 2022-model-year Silverado and Sierra, this could be seen as a bit of a grace period.
2022 Chevrolet Silverado And GMC Sierra Production Halted
GM’s North American assembly plants have had regular production schedules since November 1, 2021. But it seems that lucky streak has run out. According to The Detroit News, last year GM and other automakers lost billions worth of revenue as production was halted at various plants due to the chip shortage.
GM pushed to keep the Fort Wayne Assembly Plant open as much as possible last year since it is home to its profit-rich Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The plant will be down the weeks of April 4 and April 11, and production is expected to resume as usual on Tuesday, April 19, with the third shift reporting in on April 18.
GM spokesman Dan Flores stated: “Overall, we have seen better consistency in semiconductor supply through the first quarter compared to last year as a whole. This has translated into improvements in our production and deliveries during the first three months of the year. However, there is still uncertainty and unpredictability in the semiconductor supply base, and we are actively working with our suppliers to mitigate potential issues moving forward.”
The plant’s executive director, Gary Duff, wrote in a notice sent to employees Friday: “I know schedule changes like this cause disruptions in our lives. The decision was not an easy one to make by the company. Please use this time to reconnect with family and friends, refresh your bodies, and recharge your minds. So, when we return, we will be ready to build the best trucks in the world with pride.”


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I welcome this opportunity to update Parliament on the deposit return scheme following the First Minister’s statement earlier this week. Scotland’s deposit return scheme is an ambitious and transformational upgrade to Scotland’s recycling infrastructure. It has already seen hundreds of millions of pounds invested across the country and is creating hundreds of new green jobs in the recycling industry, with many more to come. It will reduce litter by one third, increase the recycling rate of single-use drinks containers to 90 per cent and cut CO2 emissions by 4 million tonnes over 25 years.
That is the kind of change that we need to see if we are to remain true to our commitment to tackle the climate emergency and to leverage private investment behind a green and circular economy. However, as the First Minister and I have said this week, we cannot deliver on this ambition without an exclusion from the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. With just four months to go, the UK Government has not issued that exclusion, which makes a delay to the scheme unavoidable.
We have also heard the concerns expressed by businesses, particularly small businesses, and we want to do more to support them. With that in mind, I will today set out the new timetable for Scotland’s DRS and provide an overview of a new package of measures to simplify the scheme and support businesses to participate, and I will finish with next steps on our engagement with the UK Government.
Significant progress has been made by businesses large and small in preparing for the scheme. Around £300 million of investment has been committed in systems, infrastructure and staff time, with many businesses fully prepared to launch the scheme.
The scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland, has developed the logistical network that will support the operation of the scheme, and ground has been broken on sites across Scotland, including sorting centres in Aberdeen and Motherwell that are creating up to 200 new green jobs. I am very grateful to everyone who has helped to make that happen. However, in recent months progress has stalled. Presiding Officer, the primary cause of that has been the uncertainty created by the continued failure by the United Kingdom Government to issue an IMA exclusion. [
Together with public briefings against the scheme from the Secretary of State for Scotland, the effect has been corrosive, undermining confidence, stalling progress and halting private investment. Some businesses have said that they will simply not join the scheme because of the UK Government’s position, and there has been extensive feedback from industry that they are not willing to proceed with investments until they have clarity.
This is an ambitious, major infrastructure scheme that affects thousands of businesses and everyone in Scotland. Readiness for August was always going to be challenging, particularly given the difficult conditions that the industry has faced in recent years, but the chilling effect of Westminster’s position has made it impossible. Scotland’s deposit return scheme will now go live on 1 March 2024. This gives the time needed for the UK Government to fulfil its duties, and it gives businesses a full 10 months from now to get ready for launch.
Earlier this week I met with representatives of producers and retailers to outline the new timetable. I acknowledge their constructive response and the suggestions that they have made to ensure that these 10 months are used to full effect, and I look forward to continuing to engage with them to ensure that we make the progress that we need to make. I have also asked partners in the scheme—CSL, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Zero Waste Scotland—to work with my officials and with businesses to deal promptly with any remaining issues, to allow businesses to prepare.
Although Scotland’s DRS is an industry-led scheme, just as similar schemes are across the world, the Scottish Government has consistently worked in partnership with businesses to facilitate progress and ensure that a pragmatic approach is taken to implementing the scheme. That is why we are removing the obligation on the vast majority of online retailers to provide take-back services; it is why, earlier this year, CSL brought forward a £22 million package of support to improve cash flow for producers; and it is why we have listened carefully to the suggestions that small businesses, in particular, have made in recent weeks with a view to developing a package of measures that are fair and pragmatic and that support the overall aims of the scheme.
The key elements of that package are as follows. First, all drinks containers under 100ml will be completely excluded from the scheme. That will benefit businesses in the soft drinks, wine and spirits industries—the latter has raised particular concerns about miniatures—while removing just 0.2 per cent of articles from the scheme.
Secondly, products with low sales volumes will be excluded from the scheme. That change applies to any product that sells fewer than 5,000 items a year. That will apply to all businesses, so a large business that has a niche product line with low sales volume will not need to apply a deposit to that line and a small business that sells a low volume of products will not need to apply a deposit to any of their products. That change will remove only around 0.5 per cent of articles from the scheme but will remove the need for around 44 per cent of businesses to apply a deposit to their products, effectively removing many of the smallest producers from the scheme.
Thirdly, we plan to exempt all hospitality premises that sell the large majority of their drinks products for consumption on the premises from acting as a return point. Regulations already exempt premises that exclusively sell drinks on site, such as restaurants, pubs and nightclubs. However, many hospitality businesses also sell a small proportion of drinks to take away. Where that is the case, we agree that they need not operate as a return point, given that they will already be operating a closed-loop system for drinks on sale. We will engage with hospitality businesses on the proportion of sales to which that will apply, in order to ensure a balance between support for businesses and accessibility for customers.
In addition, in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, we have simplified the online process for retailers to apply for an exemption from operating a return point, following feedback from businesses that have used the online application system.
I am aware of the concern that some businesses have around the size and complexity of the producer agreement with Circularity Scotland. To help with that, I have asked Circularity Scotland to develop a short-form producer agreement, which will help to reduce the burden on those businesses.
Throughout the process of developing the DRS, we have worked closely with officials in the UK Government. However, the UK Government has still to issue an internal market act exclusion, even though we first raised the need for one in 2021. We have followed the agreed process and have provided all the material that has been asked of us. I had expected to finally get a decision at the most recent meeting of the interministerial group, on Monday of this week. However, no decision was forthcoming and ministers were unable to provide a timeframe for one. [
Let me be clear: Scotland’s DRS is within the devolved competence—
Let me be clear: Scotland’s DRS is within the devolved competence of the Scottish Government and Parliament. It is not for Westminster to undermine our democracy in the way that it is doing. Following my statement, we will write to the UK Government to inform it of the new timetable and support package and to request—once again—an urgent decision to allow the scheme to proceed as I have outlined.
I am confident that that will happen, because there is no reasonable justification for our request being refused. It is the right outcome for businesses, for Scotland and for the UK, which will benefit from our scheme leading the way. We remain committed to continuing to share lessons with the UK Government.
Alongside our work to obtain an IMA exclusion, we are working with the UK Government on issues related to trading standards, which are important for producers and retailers. Businesses need answers on those issues in short order. Again, I ask the UK Government to work with us, businesses and regulators to resolve those critical issues in a timely manner.
I and this Government are committed to Scotland’s deposit return scheme. That commitment is unwavering, because I believe in climate action. I believe in investing in green infrastructure and in creating the green jobs of the future, so I call on members across the chamber who share those values to put an end to their increasingly desperate attempts to undermine Scotland’s deposit return scheme.
Right now, it looks as though colleagues in the Labour and Tory parties have given up on recycling, on tackling the litter crisis, on the climate emergency and even on the authority of this Parliament to make decisions in devolved areas. That is what this comes down to. Scotland’s Parliament legislated to make deposit return happen and I, as a minister of the Scottish Government, am delivering on that democratic mandate—[
.]—but a Tory Westminster Government that Scotland did not vote for appears to be using the post-Brexit powers that it gave itself to stop this vital scheme in its tracks.
Minister, I am sorry to interrupt again, but please resume your seat.
This is the third and last time that I will say this. The minister is making a statement. As is the common practice when ministers make statements, there are to be no interventions or interruptions.
Minister, please conclude.
Thank you, Presiding Officer.
Labour and the Tories might have given up on devolution, but we have not. I and this Scottish Government will work tirelessly to deliver on our mandate and to protect this Parliament’s right to work for the people of Scotland.
The minister will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move on to the next item of business. I ask those members who wish to ask a question to press their request-to-speak button now.
I thank the minister for advance sight of the statement. The only parties in the chamber that have given up on recycling are the Scottish National Party and its partners in the Greens, having not met the 2013 household recycling target that the Scottish Government set.
Today’s statement confirms the SNP-Green approach: constitutional grievance first and business second. The Scottish Government had been sitting on the scheme since 2009, before it finally got round to introducing regulations and setting a launch date of April 2021. Then we had a delay, then another delay and then, this week, with the minister having lost control of the scheme, the First Minister had to step in and announce yet another delay.
The minister will not be happy with that, having said that
“no one with any credibility” would delay the scheme again and that it would be a
“kick in the teeth” to industry.
The minister has made such an almighty mess of the scheme that she has now had to effectively rewrite it. Today’s changes should have been made months ago. Businesses cannot have confidence in a scheme that sees continual delays and massive changes at the last minute.
Let us be clear: this is not an industry-led scheme. The Scottish waste sector has been excluded, small businesses have been excluded from membership of the scheme administrator and, in any case, Donald McCalman of Circularity Scotland said today:
“We’re not running the scheme. I think that’s an important misconception to address.”
Can the minister provide a helpful answer? I am not interested in pre-scripted flimflam telling me information that I already know. Will registered producers be held liable for advanced months payments during this delay, yes or no?
Before Mr Golden stands up to ask his question again, that question would have been heard if members on the front bench and in the other parts of the chamber that I am looking at directly had not heckled him while he was asking his question. That is perhaps a salutary lesson for everyone today: members must let the person who has the floor be the speaker at that particular time.
The member asks an interesting question about the agreement between producers and Circularity Scotland, which is a contract that they have signed. The member may be reassured to hear that only the very largest producers are liable for costs under that contract.
I thank the minister for advance notice of her statement, although I am deeply disappointed by its tone and content. I put on record that the First Minister’s response yesterday to my letter was merely a political attack, which the minister is, unfortunately, repeating today.
Businesses, the hospitality sector and recycling companies are stressed and have been highlighting their concerns for months. Being told by the minister, for the past few months, to go to a website has not cut it, especially when the information that they sought was not even there. Now that we have this inevitable delay, we need a grown-up approach from both the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure that we get a scheme that will not disadvantage Scottish businesses and consumers.
We at Scottish Labour are absolutely clear in our support for the principle of a DRS scheme. Such schemes have been successful in other countries and in the debate later today we will highlight our commitment to stronger action on the climate emergency. But, even now, there is no admission in the statement that the scheme has been wrongly designed. That is why we have been asking questions for months.
I want a response from the minister on the key issue of the implementation of the scheme. She has again said that responsibility for that has been given to the private company Circularity Scotland, which does not represent small businesses and has no accountability or parliamentary oversight. Circularity Scotland has already given the contract to Biffa, a company now owned by a US hedge fund, which will put jobs in local recycling companies at risk and will give Biffa a monopoly over the prices to be charged in future.
Will the minister now roll back on that? What remains a concern to businesses is the exact detail of how the scheme is to be implemented. Will the minister now commit to meeting those producers, members of the hospitality sector and recycling companies, who will still face major challenges even with the changes that she has announced today?
I continue to meet producers and members of the retail and hospitality sectors, and I am happy to meet recyclers as well. Engagement with industry and business has been a core part of how we have been delivering this. Indeed, after the First Minister’s statement on Tuesday, I held rapid meetings with producers, retailers and the non-governmental organisations in the sector that very afternoon. That is just a continuing example of the kind of engagement that we have had all along.
I will go through some of the timeline, because I think that it might be useful for the member to understand that. Since last year, we have developed considerable momentum towards what was intended to be the launch in August this year. That has included working with industry on its concerns with regard to the scheme.
The regulations that this Parliament passed were deliberately broad to allow industry to make those adjustments and decisions that were right for industry. The scheme is paid for by industry and delivered by industry. I suppose that this Parliament could have passed a scheme that would have been paid for by the taxpayer and controlled by Government, but that is not what it passed. However, within the scope of delivering the scheme, there are some key partners, which include the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament. We passed the regulations, SEPA enforces them, and industry’s job is to adhere to them. Circularity Scotland is a private not-for-profit business that has been created by industry to enable it to comply with the regulations as passed by this Parliament.
Throughout the process of delivering this project, industry has come back to me, as a representative of the Scottish Government, and said that it would like us to clarify, provide detail on and improve certain elements of the scheme, so we have done that. We clarified the process for streamlining exclusions. We got rid of online take-back for most people who would have been responsible—
We worked with
Circularity Scotland, which, in March, delivered £22 million-worth of cash-flow support. Today, I have announced significant adjustments to the delivery of the scheme that have been asked for by industry. Industry asked us to exclude miniatures. We have done so. Industry asked us to look at what could be done for small producers, and 44 per cent of them will now not be required to apply a deposit.
The member should be clear that I have systematically worked through and delivered on what industry has asked for. We now have 10 months before the new launch date, and I am looking forward to working with industry to get to that successfully. The businesses that I engaged with on Tuesday had some very constructive suggestions—I thank them for that—as to how we might work together to do that, and I will continue to do that work.
Thank you, Presiding Officer.
Can the minister now suggest that SEPA and Circularity Scotland provide clarity on the scheme for small hospitality businesses—such as DreadnoughtRock in Bathgate, which I visited recently—that already recycle 100 per cent of their glass bottles, cans and other waste and use existing SEPA systems of recording such recycling? What consideration has been given to closed-loop hospitality venues that have difficulty in securely storing waste that is destined for recycling? The same company may be designated by Circularity Scotland to collect in the future, but currently it will do so only from the public main street, which will bring serious security issues in relation to what will be a valuable commodity.
All scheme articles will bear a deposit, which hospitality businesses will have paid when they purchased the materials. Hospitality businesses can only redeem that deposit by ensuring that scheme articles are returned, so removing them from the scheme is not possible. The scheme will allow closed-loop hospitality businesses to have their material collected for free, saving them money while keeping up the high levels of recycling. I am aware that CSL continues to work with the hospitality industry to ensure smooth working of the scheme.
The minister was asked whether there might be liabilities arising and she confirmed that there will be. Can she, therefore, tell me what is the total liability, expressed as a figure, for registered producers and retailer contractual commitments for reverse vending machines resulting from this delay?
That is a matter relating to the contractual agreement between Circularity Scotland and the producers. The member can be assured that only the very largest producers—those making more than 10 million units a year—are required to underwrite the cost. It is an agreement between a private company and their customers; it is not a matter for the Scottish Government.
Prior to Brexit, which, of course, Scotland did not want, we had regulatory divergence, and this Parliament could be secure in legislating in devolved areas. The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee has consistently raised concerns about the lack of transparency about the frameworks and the nature of the relationships between the Governments and how those are developing. The UK Government’s two-year delay with regard to its decision about exclusions to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 under the common frameworks can only leave us with the impression that it is trampling over the devolution settlement. Does the minister agree?
I share the member’s deep frustration. Let me be clear: this should not be how devolution works. I am deeply concerned about the broader implications of the UK Government using its powers under the 2020 act in that way to undermine the common frameworks and the devolved decisions that are taken by this Parliament, and I know that the Welsh Government is also concerned about that.
The common frameworks were meant to provide a means of resolving issues such as these, and my ask of the UK Government is clear. We need to follow the agreed, published process, engage constructively and agree an exclusion quickly. That is the best outcome not only for Scotland and Scottish businesses but for the UK as a whole.
In February this year, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity claimed that there were 500 new jobs out for recruitment as part of the deposit return scheme, including 60 in Aberdeen, all of which would contribute to our just transition; and, in March, the minister announced that 664 businesses had registered with the scheme ahead of the August launch. Can the minister share what assessments the Scottish Government has made of the impact of the significant delay on those new jobs, and of the implications of the cost to those businesses and organisations that have already invested in changes to their operations as part of the scheme?
The member is right to say that many businesses in Scotland have invested heavily towards the August launch date. That investment includes recruiting people, setting up information technology systems and getting ready to install reverse vending machines. The delay, which has been caused by the prevarication of the UK Government in relation to issuing an exemption from the 2020 act, which we asked for two years ago—I stress that we are weeks away from the when the scheme was meant to be launched—has been frustrating for me and for those businesses that have made that substantial investment.
Maurice Golden quoted me accurately earlier: I think that the delay on the part of the UK Government is a kick in the teeth for the businesses that have worked hard towards the launch of the scheme. However, the businesses can be assured that that investment is not lost. It will be valuable as we work towards our 1 March launch, because the Government is committed to the deposit return scheme and we will be working towards a successful launch in March next year.
That is an important question that affects Scottish businesses and businesses across the UK as they implement their deposit return schemes.
Trading standards officers have indicated that their interpretation of the price marking legislation is that the deposit must be included in the price displayed for a product. We believe that that approach risks confusion for customers. We believe that it is important that it is clear that the deposit on products is refundable and, therefore, we believe that it should not be included in the price that is displayed but instead should be highlighted separately, as the deposit return regulations require. That is the approach of deposit return schemes in other countries.
Trading standards is a resolved policy area, so we cannot adjust the regulations ourselves. However, we have called on the UK Government to amend the relevant legislation, which does not explicitly cover deposit return schemes, to make it clear that the deposit price can be displayed separately. Scottish Government officials are working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Welsh Government and the Department for Business and Trade to seek a consistent approach to deposit pricing across the UK, particularly as we believe that Westminster will want a similar approach to the one that we are proposing when it launches its own scheme.
Circularity Scotland’s role is to deliver the scheme as per Government instruction. SEPA is the regulator of the scheme. However, despite the hundreds of questions that have been asked of the minister, we are still unclear as to her role. Will she take this opportunity to tell us what her responsibilities are, and will she finally commit to working with MSPs of all parties—who, incidentally, are supportive of a workable DRS scheme—ditch the positive squirming, and listen to affected industries when they raise legitimate concerns?
As I went through in detail when Mercedes Villalba asked a question, I have engaged effectively with businesses—producers and retailers—and I have spoken with MSPs in the chamber. I have done extensive engagement. That is how we have made changes to the operation of the DRS, which we have done specifically to address what industry has asked for. I have given extensive detail—I am sure that the Presiding Officer does not want me to go through it again—of exactly all the ways in which we have listened to businesses to get ready for the launch.
Ten months are ahead of us before our launch date of 1 March. On Tuesday, I again had constructive engagement with retailers and producers as to how we are going to work together to become a really effective delivery body in order to launch the scheme successfully on 1 March—and I look forward to doing just that.
I note that the minister has recently met representatives of producers and retailers, which is good, but has she met the Resource Management Association Scotland, as I have? It represents 400 companies—small and medium-sized enterprises—that operate in waste management, with 6,690 employees. It has concerns, given that Biffa has a monopoly, that those businesses will be put out of work and that those jobs are at risk.
I met the RMAS some time ago, albeit not specifically on this matter. I share the member’s concern about the impact on existing recyclers and waste companies. My officials have been in discussion with CSL about that, and we are clear that we must harness the opportunities for existing recyclers within the DRS.
CSL has indicated that, as part of Biffa’s responsibility for building and operating an efficient and effective collections network, it is in active discussions with several existing waste collection companies to explore how those organisations can work with Biffa on the DRS. It remains keen to engage with other such companies and has a dedicated form on its website to allow firms to make contact and open discussions. I urge recycling and waste companies to do just that: to get in contact with Biffa.
The minister’s statement was a remarkable exercise in blame shifting that was both ill advised and lacking in self-awareness. Over the past two years, I have spoken to many businesses, not one of which has mentioned the UK Government but all of which have criticised the Scottish Government’s approach.
The minister said that she has set out further changes today. She has insisted that the scheme is genuinely led by industry. Will she therefore confirm that she will be open to considering any other changes that small businesses in particular believe are still required?
I have engaged with businesses large and small and with trade associations, and the number 1 concern that businesses have raised with me is the uncertainty around the scheme—in particular, the uncertainty that has been created by the UK Government not issuing an internal market act exclusion. [
Specifically, businesses are asking why they should invest in a scheme that Alister Jack of the UK Government says he might veto—why should they put millions of pounds of their money on the line when the UK Government is creating such uncertainty? The businesses that I have spoken to have either paused their investment or told me that they are not willing to participate in the scheme until the UK Government gives them that clarity. We need that clarity first.
However, as I have outlined today, I have listened clearly to businesses at all stages. The simplification measures that I have announced are significant, particularly for small producers. That limit of 5,000 units applies to producers of all sizes but is of particular benefit for small producers that do not wish to have a deposit on their items. They could have a deposit on the items if they wanted to—they can still opt in—but the change means that 44 per cent of those smallest producers will not have a deposit on their articles. That is a significant support and exactly the kind of measure that small businesses have been asking for.
Across the country, I can see DRS facilities appearing in supermarkets, sorting centres being built and hundreds of jobs being created. With over 95 per cent of the market for cans and bottles already signed up, businesses and the minister should be congratulated on getting the UK’s first deposit return scheme so close to being launched. Given the huge private sector investment that has already been delivered in our communities, what has the reaction from those businesses been to the continued failure of the UK Government to grant an exemption from the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020? [
Despite all the moaning and groaning and theatrics to my left, it is a fact that we need an exclusion from the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 issued for the scheme to be launched. That is an absolute fact.
I absolutely share Mark Ruskell’s deep frustration. Let me be clear: this should not be how devolution works. Businesses work best when they have certainty. That is what they have asked us and the UK Government for. The continuing uncertainty on the UK Government’s position is undermining progress. We are hearing that businesses are pausing their preparation and investment until a UK Government decision is agreed. I continue to urge the UK Government to agree the exclusion as soon as possible to provide certainty for businesses.
On a happier note, I, too, am excited at starting to see reverse vending machines in shops and what is actually happening. People tweet when they see those in shops, and it is exciting to see that starting to happen.
The minister mentioned devolution. Surely the aim of devolution is to do things better, not just to do things differently for the sake of it. Does she agree that the main two outstanding business asks are that glass should be removed from scope, as is the case in the UK, and that, given the further delay—which I predict will be extended—there should alignment with the UK, thereby removing double costing, double labelling, 700 lost jobs that will happen in the waste management sector and all the detritus of the dire complexity of a broken and defective scheme? [
Greenpeace has said:
“In what kind of world is collecting glass drinks containers not an essential part of a system designed to collect drinks containers?”
Honestly. Of the 44 schemes around the world that already exist, 40 of them collect glass. It is normal for glass to be part of the scheme. Indeed, Maurice Golden wrote an extensive blog post about that, which he has since deleted. However, I can quote from it, if anyone is interested in hearing what Maurice Golden used to say about the benefits of including glass before he rethought his position:
“I am of course very disappointed that the UK Government has chosen to exclude glass from the scheme”—
I presume that anybody can therefore go on to the web and find that quote from
Maurice Golden’s blog post. He said:
“This is an opportunity to create an ambitious and inclusive UK wide ... scheme, including glass, which will tackle litter and improve recycling rates.”
Obviously, I am disappointed that the UK has not chosen to go with the global norm of including glass in the scheme. That will reduce the environmental effectiveness of the scheme. Glass is among the most common items to pollute our beaches and public spaces. It is also among the litter items that cause most concern, particularly among parents and pet owners, because of its potential to cause injury. In Scotland, we will continue to include glass in our scheme, because that is the right thing to do.
As the gap between any Scottish scheme and one in the rest of the UK continues to narrow, will the minister use the next 10 months to seek to ensure that any Scottish scheme aligns as closely as possible with other schemes in the UK in areas such as labelling and product size exemptions, because my South Scotland constituents on the border who routinely purchase products on either side of the border in their daily lives should be able to return those products to either side of the border wherever they purchase them?
Absolutely—I can reassure the member that we are committed to the interoperability of the scheme and today’s announcement on 100ml containers is part of that alignment. Of course, I am very much hoping that the UK will align with us and include glass in its scheme.
The minister’s statement will be welcomed by smaller producers such as Williams Brothers Brewing Company, based in my constituency, which I met earlier this week—particularly if the extended consultation works closely with SMEs.
Although I agree with and endorse what the minister has said about the fact that the Tory party does not know whether it wants to support the scheme, oppose it or just play constitutional politics in order to obstruct the process, can the minister also give reassurances that discussions will take place with supermarkets and other retailers to ensure that smaller producers, which are excluded from the scheme, are not adversely impacted by retailers only stocking registered scheme articles?
It is important to note that even the small producers whose items are excluded from the scheme need to register with SEPA and give it information on their quantities so that they can be properly excluded in accordance with the rules.
It is a commercial decision for individual businesses whether they wish to participate in this important environmental scheme by selling products on the Scottish market, but we would encourage any business to contact Circularity Scotland in the first instance for support and to discuss any concerns that they have about participating in the scheme.
I apologise for arriving slightly late for the statement.
Despite some concessions today, Lorna Slater is still just kicking the can down the road. Can she explain what compensation she is considering for small hospitality operators who may have already incurred considerable costs and, while climb-downs are the order of the day, will she now do the right thing and exclude small pubs and restaurants altogether?
As I have already outlined in relation to the exclusions for hospitality businesses, small pubs and nightclubs and so on that only operate as a closed loop were already excluded from acting as return points. They have to be part of the scheme as a closed loop, because when they buy those items, they will make a deposit, and by participating as a closed loop, they get that money back. However, w e are exempting them from acting as a return point and today’s announcement means that further hospitality businesses where most of their products are consumed in-house will not be obliged to act as return points. That simplifies things a great deal for hospitality businesses.
Those closed-loop hospitality businesses will have those materials collected for free, which is a substantial cost saving to those businesses. That is how we are supporting the hospitality industry.
Thank you, minister. That concludes the statement, which I allowed to run on for a bit longer because there was such interest from members across the chamber wishing to ask questions. I apologise to the few members I was not able to fit in. We allowed the statement to run on quite considerably to accommodate as many members as possible.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The minister referred to a blog post that I had written. I have never written a blog and therefore I could not have published a blog and then subsequently deleted it. I would appreciate it if the minister would correct the official record and apologise, because it is outrageous to suggest that I have done something that I have not done and it might be considered an abuse of ministerial privilege to do so.
On a further point of order, Presiding Officer, I think that it is important that members provide accurate information on the record. I have just been sat here at my desk reading the said blog from Maurice Golden, from 2019, which I believe is in an archive. It makes for very interesting reading. It is important that all members are accurate and truthful about their previous positions on matters of policy as well as their current positions.
I would advise Mr Ruskell that that is not a point of order either. Thank you.
I believe that it is time to move on to the next item of business. [
.] Quiet, please, Mr Kerr.
There will be a short pause to allow front-bench teams to change positions should they so wish. Thank you.


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FedEx Trade Networks, the freight forwarding arm of FedEx, has established new operations in Dublin as part of its ongoing expansion initiative.
The Dublin office is the first in the Republic of Ireland and the 24th in Europe. It is located near Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and motorways.
“Dublin is an important transport hub for the medical device, pharmaceutical, technology, aerospace and industrial sectors and offers multiple import and export options,” said Christian Blain, vice president of FedEx Trade Network’s operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, in a written statement. “This new office will provide customers enhanced access to the whole of Europe and increase connectivity worldwide.”
Separately, FedEx Express, the express transportation division of FedEx, re-launched its express solutions in Libya through Takween for Airfreight Services, a licensed Federal Express Global Service Provider. Takween is responsible for offering a range of FedEx services to customers in Libya, including import, export and customs clearance.
“Libya has great growth potential as the economy stabilizes in the post-revolution era,” said David Ross, FedEx Express’s senior vice president of operations for the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa. “Its growth is not only being spurred by the oil and gas sector, but also by other industries such as trade and construction.”
“As a big contributor to international trade, FedEx will significantly support Libya and its business community, enhancing flexibility and speed to market,” he concluded.
FedEx has also completed the first stage of an acquisition process by signing agreements to buy the businesses operated by its current service provider Supaswift in five countries in Southern Africa, including South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia. FedEx is also in discussions to acquire Supaswift’s businesses in Botswana and Namibia.
These acquisitions will operate under the FedEx Express business unit, which specializes in air and ground express transportation. The integration of Supaswift’s businesses will commence once the transaction has been closed and is expected to be achieved gradually over a number of months. The transaction is subject to necessary regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
“The acquisition of Supaswift’s businesses, once closed, will provide customers with greater access to some of the world’s most rapidly growing economies,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and CEO of FedEx, in a written statement. “It is an important step in our international growth strategy and further strengthens our FedEx Express portfolio.”


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Mentioned in this articleGames:
Despite being a considerably small player in the esports market, India is on a rapid climb. With a gaming market worth $800M, the country boasts one of the highest gamer to non-gamer populations, where PUBG Mobile isn’t simply a mobile-spinoff but among one of the most played games. Akshat Rathee, co-founder of NODWIN Gaming , offers an insider look into how one can take a burgeoning gaming territory to a blossoming esports epicenter.
The TEO Podcast is an esports business discussion show, featuring a panel of guests working within and around the competitive gaming industry. Subscribe here.
From Losing Out to Learning On the Job
You rarely hear stories about an industry from those who helped build it up. Yet in a nascent space such as esports, foundation layers aren’t hard to find, especially as you begin to venture across the world. Akshat Rathee’s call to esports actually began with a tragic event: the Indian Gaming Carnival (IGC) in 2012. Originally billed as a $200K prize pool event, organizers of the IGC actually defrauded over 20,000 people, according to Rathee. “There was no power, no electricity, people had run away,” he explained. “It was horrible, someone had broken a bottle on someone from Moscow Five’s head…”
To ease tensions, Rathee and his friends hosted the nIGC (Not IGC); a bring your own computer (BYOC) house tournament. Encouraged by his friends, the investment banker and entrepreneur decided to build out his own esports company. While he considers it the best decision of his life now, for the first one and a half years it felt like the worst idea he’d ever had. “Our market just didn’t exist. I say that to a lot of people. The business of esports is the business of either creating your own IPs, or serving the publisher’s marketing needs.”
[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”The business of esports is the business of either creating your own IPs, or serving the publisher’s marketing needs.”[/perfectpullquote]
When it came to the choice of media rights or event management, the first thing Akshat and his newly formed NODWIN could do was measure the amount of money he could burn, then get away from the “trading mind set.”
“One of the first tournaments we ever did in India was with a company called Flipkart,” he said. “It was fairly small, we were really happy. Didn’t make too much money around it, but we finally got someone in India to go ahead and pay us to do a gaming event. We weren’t profitable in it, no chance, but at least someone was willing to go ahead and pay.”
To become a profitable business in its early years, NODWIN did a lot of servicing and white label events. Most of the business development cost was for Akshat to travel abroad and meet companies such as Modern Times Group (MTG), Activision Blizzard , Twitch , etc. “Doing 3% in a country that nobody is doing anything in, was still the biggest.”
When a Country Isn’t a Gaming Market…
As a general rule, brands and game publishers alike aren’t going to invest in a foreign market without seeing it with their own eyes first. In the podcast, Akshat said he’s done 20 or so market visits, showing off the industry in all its glory, in spite of how good or bad the gaming cafes, internet connections, and payments systems were. For many, the market simply wasn’t ready.
“At that time, I used to go to someone who used to be in the space of keyboards, mice, and headsets,” said Akshat. “They said we’ll give you four keyboards and four mice. Use them, and can you give them back next week?”
[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Doing 3% in a country that nobody is doing anything in, was still the biggest.”[/perfectpullquote]
This is typically what a hardware brand would offer on top of actually sponsoring a tournament. Akshat harbors no ill feelings against these companies though, since it was all they had to offer at the time. When a country isn’t yet a gaming market, there is no need for a company to have a marketing department that focuses on that sector. Instead, event organizers are left to deal with supply chains. “It’s a decision for you to support this weird thing, called ‘an esports tournament,’ or should you just give your channel 2% cash back so they push your product more? If I were them, they shouldn’t have listened to me. They did the right thing.”
Despite its early challenges, NODWIN Gaming is now an essential partner to companies such as Valve and ESL in India. It is on the verge of hosting DreamHack Mumbai—the first Asian iteration of the world’s largest digital gaming festival. It is a shame that the stories like that of Indian player Nikhil “Forsaken” Kumawat (who was recently banned for cheating in an India Premiership event) overshadows the fact that India and NODWIN recently played host to one of the biggest Counter-Strike events in Southeast Asia.
The TEO Podcast is now also available on both iTunes and Spotify.